Continuously cycling timer attachment for wall mounted toggle switch

ABSTRACT

An actuator device, electro-mechanical in principle of construction, makes use of a commercially available universal timer for setting the desired time of on-off actuation, a limit switch which turns the current on and off to the electric plunger, correspondingly with the setting of the universal timer, which is set by rotating a calibrated dial, and a means for attaching to existing toggle switches which are desired to be automatically turned on and off at a prescribed time interval.

United States Patent [191 Au'gustyniak [451 Junel8,1974

[ CONTINUOUSLY CYCLING TIMER ATTACHMENT FOR WALL MOUNTE TOGGLE SWITCH [76] Inventor: Anthony A. Augustyniak, 14 Cotton Rd., Levittown, Pa. 19057 [22] Filed: Dec. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 316,994

[52] US. Cl. 200/33 R, 200/35 R, 200/38 A [51] Int. Cl. H0lh 43/10 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS r 2,937,247 5/1960 Laviana et a]. 200/3 8 A 3,179,758 4/1965 Trock 200/33 R X 3,260,807 7/1966 Rulseh et al 200/38 FB 3,264,817 8/1966 Beguin 200/38 FB X Primary ExaminerJames R. Scott ABSTRACT An actuator device, electro-mechanical in principle of construction, makes use of a commercially available universaltimer for setting the desired time of on-off actuation, a limit switch which turns the current on and 01f to the electric plunger, correspondingly with the setting of the universal timer, which is set by rotating a calibrated dial, and a means for attaching to existingtoggle switches which are desired to be automaticallyturned on and off at a prescribed time interval.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CONTINUOUSLY CYCLING TIMER ATTACHMENT FOR WALL MOUNTED TOGGLE SWITCH BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Pat. No. 3,427,412, F. J; Papa, Jr.; U.S. Pat..No.

3,454,730, C. E. Miller; US. Pat No. 3,497,645, R. D. Rulseh, et. al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,166, James J. Halicho.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The available timers offered. are complicated in construction and quite bulky. Likewise, most of the timers must be separately wired in to the electrical circuits that are intended to be turned on-off at a prescribed time interval. Most of the timers for this purpose are directed toward deterence of intrusion.

It is one object of my invention to provide a versatile circuit actuating means, yet inexpensive and simple in construction.

It is also another object of my present invention, to provide an actuating means that is very simple to install, as simple and convenient as installing a switch plate cover, which in actuality, is tightening two small screws, hence, no need to expose the circuit to be actuated and wiring in of the timer.

Other objects and advantages will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, and taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1. is a front view which shows the face dial, actuator arm and one method of attachment to existing switch plates.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section view of the inner mechanism.

FIG. 3 shows the gear arrangement with the calibrated attached cam.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail there is illustrated a preferred form of an actuator device constructed in accordance with the present invention and designated generally by the reference numeral 10, the actuator device intended for operating an electrical toggle type wall switch between an on and off position where the toggle switch is provided with an operating arm projecting outwardly from a standard type electrical switchplate.

The actuator device includes a universal electrically driven motorized time keeping clock mechanism 28 having an integrally attached gear compartment 29 mounted thereon and including a mounting plate 33, there being a circular gear 30 having a shaft extending outwardly of the gear compartment 29 to be driven thereby, the gear 30 projecting forwardly of the mounting plate 33. A secondary transfer reducing gear 31 mates with gear 30, the gear 31 in turn matingwith a larger diameter gear 35 which has a cam 41 mechanically coupled thereto for rotation therewith. The cam 41 is of a flat circular configuration having a portion of the circumference thereof radially offset inwardly toward the axis of the cam with a sloping surface interconnecting the offset circumference with the normal circumference. A limit switch 42 is provided having a limit switch arm 43 extending outwardly therefrom and having an arm roller 44 connected to the end thereof and mounted in a manner to ride against the offset circumference 41a of the cam 41 for operation of the limit switch in conjunction with movement of the cam about its axis. 7

. The actuator device 10 is provided with a housing having a front cover 12, there being a clock type dial 14 located outside the face 'of the cover and mounted for movement simultaneously with gear 35 in 'cam 41 by being mounted about its axis on shaft 36 which is rotatably fixed in position on plate 33, the dial being mechanically spaced from the gear 35 by tubular spacers 39 disposed concentric about shaft 36. The dial is provided with time indicating markings disposed about the front face thereof as seen in the drawings. Further, it is seen that manual rotation of the dial 14 will effect identical manual rotation of the cam 41, the dial and cam being detachably connected to the gear 35 in a manner permitting manual rotation of thedial and cam about their respective axes without affecting rotation of the gear 35.

The limit switch 42 is connected by suitable electrical wires intermediate a source of electrical energy which is provided by the same source which energizes the timer 28, and a coil 22a of an electrical solenoid 22 such that operation of the limit switch effects the energization and de-energization of the solenoid. The solenoid 22 consists of an electrical bare wire coil 22a encapsulated or potted cylindrically with an insulating material such as resin or rubber, the coil being open at one end and closed at the other end such that the appearance thereof is similar to a thick walled cylinder closed at one end. A magnetic material plunger 20,

such as made out of ferrous metal, is provided and may be'of a small square steel rod, the plunger being positioned partially inside the opening of the coil 22a in a manner permitting reciprocal axial movement thereof into and out of the coil through the opening. When an electric current is flowing through the solenoid coil 22a, a magnetic field is set up which pulls the plunger 20 down into the core 21 of the solenoid coil 22a, and when the electric current is not flowing the plunger 20 is pulled out of the core 21 by a spring 26 as will be later described.

The solenoid 22 is mounted to an interior back wall surface of the cover 12 of the actuator device by means of insulated support 23 and 24 engaging opposite end portions of the solenoid. The projecting end of the plunger 20 is attached to a bottom end of an actuator arm 17 by a fastener 25, one end of the spring 26 also being attached to the fastener 25 with the opposite end of the spring projecting outwardly therefrom along the generally axis of the plunger 20 and connected to the interior top surface of the cover 12 at a back cover extension 11 thereof. The tension of the spring is preloaded to move actuator arm 17 upwardly relative to solenoid 22 when the solenoid is de-energized, with energization of the solenoid overcoming the force of the spring 26 in' a manner to move actuator arm 17 downward relative to the solenoid. a

The actuator arm 17' is mounted relative to cover 12 for upward and downward movement through a slot 11a provided on the top portion 12b of' the cover, the actuator arm being guided by guides 17a mounted on the cover. The actuator arm 17is provided with a rectangularly shaped opening 18 extending through the topmost end portion thereof and adapted to fit over an operating arm of a standard type electrical toggle wall switch, with a second opening 19 being provided in the actuator arm 17 in a manner to provide'access through the actuator arm to an opening 13 in back cover extension 1 1 which is intended for use in the mounting of the actuator device to a standard wall plate for operation of the toggle switch. The opening 16 on the back cover extension 11 provides reasonable space for the reciprocal movement of the operating arm of the toggle switch.

As'seen in FIG. 2, it is seen that the gear 30 is axially connected by a gear shaft 34 to the gear housing 29 for driving movement therefrom, with gear 31 being rotatably mounted by a shaft32 which is rotatably journaled to fixed plate 33. The gear 35 is keyed to the shaft 36, while the previously described face dial 14 and cam 41 rotate with the shaft 36 by friction only with such cam and dial being manually rotatable relative to the gear 35 irrespective of whether the gear 35 and shaft 36 are stationary or rotating. The cam 41 is spaced from the gear 35 by tubular spacing 37, with the cam being held in position on the shaft by a lock nut' means 38 while the face dial 14 is spaced from the cam 41 by a plurality of spacing elements 39 and a nut 40 securing the dial to the actuator device 10. r

The limit switch 42 is attached tothe plate 33 by means of small fasteners 45, which may be screws, rivets, and the like. I

Provided on the face of cover 12 at diametrically opposed points thereon are a pair of pointers which are vertically aligned and spaced apart and are used in conjunction with the reading of the markings on the dial The cam 41,-which is calibrated in percent on-off, actuates the operation of the limit switch 42 between the on and off positions of the limit switch, each time the contact roller 44 is displaced by the points 41a and 411) on the circumference of the cam.

In operation, a desired preset time is selected by rotating the dial 14 relative to the cover 12, this also effecting the simultaneous rotation of the cam 41 which is affixed to the dial. The actuator device is then plugged into a suitable source of electrical power, such as a conventional home or office receptacle or the like, this providing power to the timer 28, the'contacts of limit switch 42, and the solenoid 22 such that when the contactroller- 44'passes either point 41a or 41b of cam 41, the limit switch 42 is operated in a manner to switch 1 the electrical current on or off for the solenoid coil 22a, this in turn operating the plunger and attached actuator arm 17- in a manner to move the actuator arm relative to the top surface of the cover 12, this effectively flipping an operating arm of a toggle switch'projecting through opening 18. When the solenoid 22 is energized, the actuator arm will move downward to flip the toggle switch downward, and when the solenoid is not energized, the spring 26 will effect the upward movement of the actuator arm 17 in a manner to flip the toggle switch upward. The actuator arm ,17 is thus operable with the plunger 20 between a depressed position upon energization of thesolenoid to pull the plunger axially thereinto, with the actuator arm movable to a projecting position upon de-energization of the solenoid with the action of the spring 26 urgingthe actuator arm outward of the cover, it being understood that the movement of the actuator arm between the depressed and projecting positions effects the similar movement of the toggle switch operating arm between an on and off position in the same manner as if the tog-.

gle switch arm were manually operated.

Further, it is to be notedthat the actuator arm 17 is detachably connected to the toggle switch arm in a manner permitting the normal manual operation of the toggle switch arm between and on and off position when the solenoid 22 is de-energizedf I It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a pre ferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification asvarious changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted'to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joinedclaims.

- What is claimed to be unique and novel improvement 1. An actuator device intended for operating an electrical toggle type wall switch between an on and off position, the toggle switch having an operating'arm projecting outwardly from a standard type electrical switch plate, the device comprising a hollow boxlike housing having a top wall surface, a bottom wall surface, a back wall surface, and a front wall surface, said wall surfaces defining a compartment interiorly of the housing, an

electrically driven motorized time keeping clock mechanism disposed interiorly of the compartment and having an electrical cord connected thereto and adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy exteriorly of the housing, a dial rotatably mounted about its axis exteriorly of the front wall surface and having time indicating markings disposed about the front face thereof, a clock train gear assembly interconnecting the timer motor and the dial for rotating the dial to indicate the time thereon, a flat circular cam having a portion of the circumference thereof radially offset inwardly toward the axis of the cam with a sloping surface interconnecting the offset circumference with the normal circumference, the cam being concentrically disposed relative to the dial and spaced inwardly therefrom to be within the compartment and fixedly connected to the dial such that manual rotation of the dial will effect identical manual rotation of the cam, the dial and cam assembly being detachably connected to the clock train gear assembly permitting manual rotation of the dial and cam about their respective axes without affecting rotation of the clock train gear assembly, an electrical switch actuated between an open and closed position by means of a cam follower arm projecting outwardlytherefrom to a position engaging the circumference of the cam, the arm being resiliently urged into continuous engagement with the cam circumference so as to follow the same as the cam is rotated relative thereto with movement of the arm about the normal cam circumference maintaining the electrical switch in one position and with movement of the cam arm about the offset cam circumference effecting the operation of the switch in the other position, such positions defining the on and off switch positions, an electrical solenoid fixedly mounted in the housing compartment and electrically connected to the electric switch for energization in one position of the switch and de-energization in the other position of the switch, a plunger operatively associated with the solenoid and positioned to move axially telescopically into the solenoid upon energization of the solenoid, and a spring connected to the outermost end of the plunger relative to the solenoid and adapted to move the plunger axially out of the solenoid upon de-energization of the solenoid by the electric switch, an actuator arm having one end operatively connected to the projecting end of the plunger with the opposite end projecting outwardly of the top surface of the housing and adapted to engage the toggle switch arm, the actuator being operable with the plunger to a first position upon energization of the solenoid to pull the plunger axially thereinto, and operable to a second position upon de-energization of the solenoid with the action of the spring urging the actuator arm into said second position, the movement of the actuator arm between the first and second actuator positions effecting the movement of the toggle switch arm between an on and off position in the same manner as if the toggle switch arm were manually operated, the

actuator arm being detachably connected to the toggle.

switch arm in a manner permitting the normal manual operation of the toggle switch arm between an on and off position when the solenoid is de-energized.

2. The actuator device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuator arm is of an elongated rectangular shape having a top end and a bottom end, the top end having a rectangularly shaped aperture extending transversely therethrough and adapted to fit about the toggle switch lever arm, the actuator arm extending parallel to the normal direction of operation of the toggle switch arm with the opposite end of the actuator arm extending through an opening provided therefor in the top wall surface of the housing to be connected to the outermost projecting end of the plunger, a guide attached to the exterior top wall surface of the housing and extending outwardly therefrom in juxtaposition with the actuator arm and adapted to guide the reciprocal movement of the actuator arm into and out of the housing, and the spring having one end connected to the actuator arm end inwardly of the housing with the opposite end of the spring connected to the interior surface of the housing top wall surface such that movement of the actuator arm inwardly of the housing tensions the spring with such spring acting to urge the actuator arm outwardly of the housing on removal of the force moving such actuator arm inwardly of the housing.

3. The actuator device as set forth in claim 2 wherein a pair of pointers are mounted to the housing front wall surface and project outwardly therefrom in a manner to overlap the dial, the pointers taking diametrically opposed positions on the housing relative to the dial, the angular spacing between the pointers being substantially identical to the angular length of the offset circumference of the cam, the dial being manually operable about its axis to set the desired on time adjacent one pointer and the associated off time adjacent the opposite pointer, such setting of the dial simultaneously setting the cam which acts through the associated cam follower arm to activate and de-activate the electrical switch which in turn activates and de-activates the solenoid to effect the operation of the actuator arm.

4. The actuator device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the housing is adapted to be vertically mounted to an electrical-switch plate with the toggle switch arm engaged within the aperture provided therefor in the actuator arm, the actuator arm extending vertically downwardly from the position of engagement with the toggle arm through an opening provided therefor in the housing top wall surface and terminating adjacent the vertical top end of the plunger and fixedly attached thereto by a horizontally, extending pin, the plunger extending vertically downwardly therefrom with the opposite end received in telescopic engagement within the solenoid which is axially aligned with the actuator arm, and the spring extending in vertical alignment with the actuator arm and disposed horizontally adjacent thereto with one end of the spring connected to the pin connecting the actuator arm to the plunger and with the opposite end of the spring connected to the housing adjacent the top surface thereof, and the solenoid being electrically connected in series relationship with the electric switch and the source of electrical energy such that energization of the switch will effect energization of the solenoid and de-energization of the switch will effect de-energization of the solenoid. 

1. An actuator device intended for operating an electrical toggle type wall switch between an on and off position, the toggle switch having an operating arm projecting outwardly from a standard type electrical switch plate, the device comprising a hollow boxlike housing having a top wall surface, a bottom wall surface, a back wall surface, and a front wall surface, said wall surfaces defining a compartment interiorly of the housing, an electrically driven motorized time keeping clock mechanism disposed interiorly of the compartment and having an electrical cord connected thereto and adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy exteriorly of the housing, a dial rotatably mounted about its axis exteriorly of the front wall surface and having time indicating markings disposed about the front face thereof, a clock train gear assembly interconnecting the timer motor and the dial for rotating the dial to indicate the time thereon, a flat circular cam having a portion of the circumference thereof radially offset inwardly toward the axis of the cam with a sloping surface interconnecting the offset circumference with the normal circumference, the cam being concentrically disposed relative to the dial and spaced inwardly therefrom to be within the compartment and fixedly connected to the dial such that manual rotation of the dial will effect identical manual rotation of the cam, the dial and cam assembly being detachably connected to the clock train gear assembly permitting manual rotation of the dial and cam about their respective axes without affecting rotation of the clock train gear assembly, an electrical switch actuated between an open and closed position by means of a cam follower arm projecting outwardly therefrom to a position engaging the circumference of the cam, the arm being resiliently urged into continuous engagement with the cam circumference so as to follow the same as the cam is rotated relative thereto with movement of the arm about the normal cam circumference maintaining the electrical switch in one position and with movement of the cam arm about the offset cam circumference effecting the operation of the switch in the other position, such positions defining the on and off switch positions, an electrical solenoid fixedly mounted in the housing compartment and electrically connected to the electric switch for energization in one position of the switch and de-energization in the other position of the switch, a plunger operatively associated with the solenoid and positioned to move axially telescopically into the solenoid upon energization of the solenoid, and a spring connected to the outermost end of the plunger relative to the solenoid and adapted to move the plunger axially out of the solenoid upon de-energization of the solenoid by the electric switch, an actuator arm having one end operatively connected to the projecting end of the plunger with the opposite end projecting outwardly of the top surface of the housing and adapted to engage the toggle switch arm, the actuator being operable with the plunger to a first position upon energization of the solenoid to pull the plunger axially thereinto, and operable to a second position upon de-energization of the solenoid with the action of the spring urging the actuator arm into said second position, the movement of the actuator arm between the first and second actuator positions effecting the movement of the toggle switch arm between an on and off position in the same manner as if the toggle switch arm were manually operated, the actuator arm being detachably connected to the toggle switch arm in a manner permitting the normal manual operation of the toggle switch arm between an on and off position when the solenoid is de-energized.
 2. The aCtuator device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuator arm is of an elongated rectangular shape having a top end and a bottom end, the top end having a rectangularly shaped aperture extending transversely therethrough and adapted to fit about the toggle switch lever arm, the actuator arm extending parallel to the normal direction of operation of the toggle switch arm with the opposite end of the actuator arm extending through an opening provided therefor in the top wall surface of the housing to be connected to the outermost projecting end of the plunger, a guide attached to the exterior top wall surface of the housing and extending outwardly therefrom in juxtaposition with the actuator arm and adapted to guide the reciprocal movement of the actuator arm into and out of the housing, and the spring having one end connected to the actuator arm end inwardly of the housing with the opposite end of the spring connected to the interior surface of the housing top wall surface such that movement of the actuator arm inwardly of the housing tensions the spring with such spring acting to urge the actuator arm outwardly of the housing on removal of the force moving such actuator arm inwardly of the housing.
 3. The actuator device as set forth in claim 2 wherein a pair of pointers are mounted to the housing front wall surface and project outwardly therefrom in a manner to overlap the dial, the pointers taking diametrically opposed positions on the housing relative to the dial, the angular spacing between the pointers being substantially identical to the angular length of the offset circumference of the cam, the dial being manually operable about its axis to set the desired on time adjacent one pointer and the associated off time adjacent the opposite pointer, such setting of the dial simultaneously setting the cam which acts through the associated cam follower arm to activate and de-activate the electrical switch which in turn activates and de-activates the solenoid to effect the operation of the actuator arm.
 4. The actuator device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the housing is adapted to be vertically mounted to an electrical switch plate with the toggle switch arm engaged within the aperture provided therefor in the actuator arm, the actuator arm extending vertically downwardly from the position of engagement with the toggle arm through an opening provided therefor in the housing top wall surface and terminating adjacent the vertical top end of the plunger and fixedly attached thereto by a horizontally, extending pin, the plunger extending vertically downwardly therefrom with the opposite end received in telescopic engagement within the solenoid which is axially aligned with the actuator arm, and the spring extending in vertical alignment with the actuator arm and disposed horizontally adjacent thereto with one end of the spring connected to the pin connecting the actuator arm to the plunger and with the opposite end of the spring connected to the housing adjacent the top surface thereof, and the solenoid being electrically connected in series relationship with the electric switch and the source of electrical energy such that energization of the switch will effect energization of the solenoid and de-energization of the switch will effect de-energization of the solenoid. 